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Safety & Security

The most effective way for your account information to remain safe and secure is to be an educated consumer. We are dedicated to providing you with the most current information to help prevent fraud and identity theft. We encourage you to closely monitor your account activity through online banking and immediately contact us about any suspicious activity. Please call or stop by any of our branch locations with any questions or concerns regarding safety and security.

Fraudulent Emails

Fraudulent emails can be a major problem for unsuspecting internet banking customers. Claiming to be sent by well-known companies or organizations (such as this bank, Federal banking regulators, etc), these emails ask customers to reply with personal information, such as their account number, Social Security number, a credit card number or account password. These deceptive emails are called “Spoof Emails” because they fake the appearance of a known web site or company in an attempt to commit identity theft. Also known as “hoax” or “phisher” e-mails, this practice is occurring more and more frequently throughout the online world. Please be aware that Hickory Point Bank & Trust and Federal banking regulators will not contact you through emails or telephones requesting personal information, such as those listed above. You can protect your personal information by simply ignoring the emails altogether. You should never provide contact, sign-in, or other sensitive personal information in an email. If you receive such an email or have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 217.875.3131 or Toll Free: 1.800.872.0081. Thank you.

Cybercriminals Targeting Financial Institutions

Please be aware of the phishing email below. Although phishing emails are nothing new, this one is currently circulating and is a relatively new approach. It purports to be from a concerned citizen (“Jim”) reporting a scam from a third party. The entire email is, in fact, a phishing scam targeting the abuse departments of financial institutions. Read more details here.

To protect your account, we monitor your ATM and debit card transactions for potentially fraudulent activity which may include a sudden change in locale (such as when a U.S. issued card is used unexpectedly overseas), a sudden string of costly purchases, or any pattern associated with new fraud trends around the world. If we suspect fraudulent ATM or debit card use, we’ll be calling you to validate the legitimacy of your transactions. Your participation in responding to our call is critical to prevent potential risk and avoid restrictions we may place on the use of your card. If we are unable to reach you, your card will be restricted from use. Our automated call will ask you to verify recent transaction activity on your card. You’ll be able to respond via your touch tone keypad. You’ll also be provided a toll-free number to call should you have additional questions. Our goal, quite simply, is to minimize your exposure to risk and the impact of any fraud. To ensure we can continue to reach you whenever potential fraud is detected, please keep us informed of your correct phone number and address. In the meantime, please be diligent in monitoring transaction activity on your account and contact us immediately if you identify any fraudulent transactions.

Protect Yourself

Unless absolutely required for a legitimate business purpose, avoid giving out your:

Address and ZIP code

Phone number

Date of birth

Social Security number

Card or account number

Card expiration date

Security numbers on the back of your card

Your PIN is private; NEVER give it out

In stores and at ATMs, always cover your card and PIN, and watch for:

Cell phone cameras, mirrors, or other tools used to view cards and PINs

People watching your transactions

Cashiers taking your card out of sight; take it to the register yourself

Any unusual activity at ATMs; if you feel uncomfortable, go to another ATM

Internet Tips

Online, you should never respond to unsolicited emails that:

Ask you to verify your card or account number; such emails are not sent by legitimate businesses

Link to websites; such sites can look legitimate but may collect data or put spyware on your computer

Contact Us

If you are going to be out of the country or anything out of the ordinary, please contact us ahead of time at (217) 875.3131 or toll-free at 1.800.872.0081 to let us know.